We all know that Qantas has some fresher than fresh options for health-conscious passengers (organic kombucha and poke anyone?), but are US carriers are following suit?
Diet expert and lecturer at City University of New York School of Public Health Dr Charles Platkin, has assessed the food on 11 US and Canadian carriers to see just how nutritional their offerings are.
He gave each airline ‘health score’ out of 5, based on 11 criteria including health and calorie levels of meals, snack boxes, individual snacks and the level transparency and maintenance of healthy offerings.
This year, the food served on Alaska Airlines was rated as the healthiest while Frontier Air came in at the other end of the scale.
Dr Platkin scored Alaska Airlines 4.25/5, saying the carrier had been successful in developing ‘lighter, better and healthier’ snacks and meals.
He believes Alaska has taken on Virgin America’s approach to healthy food after merging with it – and is the clear leader.
He found the healthiest dish on offer this year was the Mediterranean Tapas snack box.
Coming in second place was last year’s joint winner Delta, scoring 3.75/5 with the Doctor praising Delata’s lower in calorie meals but urging the airline to display more nutritional information about food items on its website.
JetBlue, Air Canada, American Airlines, United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Allegiant Air, Southwest Airlines and Spirir Airlines
The carrier in last place with Frontier Air who scored a shameful 0.8/5.
“As with last year, the trail mix could be the healthiest option, but travellers would be best off bringing their own food.”
Dr Charles Platkin.
You can read his study in full here.
- READ: WELLBEING IN THE SKY: Etihad’s healthy new menu
- READ: Qantas dishes up new menu to make the long haul better for all